Transportation Project Questionnaire

Regional Goods Movement Questionnaire

Project Information

Agency Name	TxDOT Houston District
Project Title	SH 3 Multiple Intersection Improvements
Facility/Street/Highway	SH 3
Limits	At South Richey, Edgebrook Dr, El Dorado Blvd, and Bay Area Blvd
Description	Change signals to mast arms, replace RR arms, and gates, and lengthen railroad planking. The purpose of the project is to extend sidewalks across the RR tracks parallel to SH 3.
Timeframe	Short Term (0-5 Years)
Estimated Cost	$4,840,000.00

Investment Category-Focused Criteria

1. Is the proposed project recommended in a statewide, regional, or local freight plan?

2. Is the proposed project located on a Critical Urban/Rural Freight corridor (CUFC/CRFC)?

Yes

3. What is the estimated percentage of daily truck volume on the existing project facility? H-GAC staff can provide assistance in gathering the truck data from our website.

6.1

4. What is the estimated percentage of daily truck volume on the project facility after the proposed project implementation?

Unknown

5. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to a port/airport?

6. Does the project facility provide new or improved connectivity to other freight generators?

Yes

6a. If yes, what is the estimated warehouse capacity of the other freight generators?

200000 plus

7. Please provide a narrative explaining how the project improves regional goods movement within and through the region. In the narrative, please mention if the project scope includes grade separations at at-grade railroad crossings or implementation of ITS technologies.

Description: The project seeks to provide multiple intersection improvements to SH 3 at South Richey St (a middle school is on the NW corner), Edgebrook Dr, El Dorado Blvd, and Bay Area Blvd by changing signals span wires to mast arms, replacing railroad arms and gates, updating signals to account for signal train pre-emption, and lengthening railroad planking. This project’s intersections are abutting the at-grade railroad intersections along the TxDOT Freight Network route on Galveston Rd and are impacted by the railroad’s control devices. This project will also look to optimize signal operations while accounting for train pre-emptions. The project will extend sidewalks across the railroad tracks parallel to SH 3 to allow for safe pedestrian and bicycle crossings from Stevenson Middle School, various apartment complexes, and grocery stores along and near the corridor. In addition to multiple intersection improvements to SH 3, the project will include improvements in safety capacity, increasing crash reduction, and improving the area’s accessibility and connectivity. Currently, METRO uses some of these intersections (routes 246 and 249 at Bay Area Blvd and Route 76 at South Richey St intersections). SH 3 runs parallel to IH-45 and serves as the primary alternate route to IH-45, an evacuation route, for the southern region. An access management study was performed, and these improvements are based on recommendations from public meetings, Advisory committees, and stakeholder committees Need: According to the H-GAC Regional Crash Data, at these intersections there have been instances of high numbers of vehicle crashes. According to the H-GAC Regional Resilience Tool, this project experiences high criticality, the area is moderately vulnerable to flooding, and the road is a linkage component between hospitals, airports, and shelters. SH 3 runs parallel to the Gulf Freeway (IH 45), a hurricane evacuation route, and could be used as an alternative route. The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 20,600 vehicles per day, with truck traffic representing a 6.1 percent share of that traffic. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent. The total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 100.53 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The fatal crash rate was 0.55 per 100 million vehicle miles, and the serious injury crash rate was 3.01. Purpose and Contribution: The purpose of the project is to provide multiple intersection improvements to SH 3 and to improve the capacity, connectivity, level of service and safety of the project segment. This improvement, in conjunction with the other adjacent proposed improvements, will improve freight access to many major freight generators in the region including the region’s seaports, airports, manufacturing facilities and many freight warehouses. The added capacity will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes due to difficult to see traffic signals, congestion, disruptions to traffic flow due to train crossings, and by bringing the segment of SH 3 up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards. In efforts to improve regional connectivity, there will be improvements made for the pedestrian and bicyclist experience, as SH 3 sidewalks will be extended and connected along the corridor and on crossing/perpendicular facility sidewalks, ultimately closing gaps due to the railroad tracks.

8. Is the project sponsor’s jurisdiction considering strategies to promote off-peak and overnight freight delivery?

9. Is the proposed project located on a State designated hurricane evacuation route?

9a. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility identified as a hurricane evacuation route in any regional or local plans?

9b. If no, is the proposed project located on a facility that functions as an alternate to a hurricane evacuation route?

Yes

i. If yes, please explain in a narrative.

SH 3 runs parallel to IH 45 S for many miles (which is classified as a state evacuation route) and could be used as an alternative route.

Other Investment Category Focused Criteria

1. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic operations. Within the narrative, please include if the proposed project includes construction of truck only lanes or managed truck only lanes, construction of an interchange, or intersection improvements.

The current daily volume of traffic on the segment is roughly 20,600 vehicles per day, with truck traffic representing a 6.1 percent share of that traffic. The estimated percent increase in volume from 2021 to 2041 is estimated to be 40 percent. Improvements in safety capacity and crash reduction as well as improving the area’s accessibility and connectivity should improve daily traffic operations.

2. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project benefits high growth areas. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project improves or provides access to new residential developments, retail stores, other land uses, or if the proposed project alleviates future congestion due to potential economic development activity such as expansion of warehouses or other freight generators.

The project location will be along the TxDOT Freight Network route on Galveston Rd. The project will extend sidewalks along the corridor and across the railroad tracks parallel to SH 3. In addition to multiple intersection improvements to SH 3, the project will include improvements in safety capacity, increasing crash reduction and improving the area’s accessibility and connectivity.

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves walking and biking conditions. Within the narrative, please explain if the proposed project scope includes construction of a new or improved existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on a project facility or in the vicinity of the project.

This project will allow for the building and improvement of new bike/ped facilities (sidewalks, trails, etc.) on same facility or in the vicinity of the project. SH 3 sidewalk will be extended and connected to the other sidewalk on the other side of the railroad tracks (gaps).

4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project improves traffic conditions for transit services (local, express, signature, or commuter).

METRO (Routes 246 and 249 at Bay Area Blvd and Route 76 at S Richey St intersections) uses this route at the SH 3 and Bay Area Blvd intersection. Project improvements will increase intersection safety and reliability, leading to increased transit service on-time reliability.

5. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project will reduce inoperability for significant periods due to infrastructure damaged by a collision with vehicles such as trucks, ships, and barges.

The project will improve the shoulders to allow more space to move disabled vehicles and to better maintain flow on the facility vehicle collisions.

6. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project will improve state of good repair and extend the service life of the project facility.

The project will bring the pavement and bridge conditions up to TxDOT and FHWA design standards and will improve the state of good repair of the segment and overall system. ?

Planning Factors Criteria

1. What is the existing fatality crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online on the crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

0.55

2. What is the existing serious injury crash rate at the project location? Regional crash data is available online on the crash data viewer. H-GAC staff will provide assistance in calculating the crash rates upon request.

3.01

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces expected fatality and serious injury crashes. Narrative must include specific improvements (work types) included in the project scope. Crash reduction factors associated with specific work types can be found in the safety benefits calculation template. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in gathering the crash reduction factors upon request.

The total crash rate for all crash types over the past five years was 100.53 crashes per 100 million vehicle miles. The fatal crash rate was 0.55 per 100 million vehicle miles, and the serious injury crash rate was 3.01. The intersection improvements will improve regional connectivity for all modes while also improving safety by reducing primary and secondary crashes and by bringing the segment up to TxDOT and FHWA safety standards.?

Resiliency

1. Please select the vulnerability to flooding score at the project location based on the Regional Resiliency tool. H-GAC staff can provide assistance with the regional resiliency tool upon request.

Medium

2. Please select the criticality score at the project location based on the Regional Resiliency tool. H-GAC staff can provide assistance with the regional resiliency tool up on request.

High

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project reduces vulnerability to flooding. The narrative must include specific improvements such as drainage improvements that are included in the scope.

All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards.

Access/Connectivity

Please enter the household population located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location: 1a. Low-Income

16,567

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

21,734

2. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a medical facility within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

3. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a school/college/university within a quarter mile buffer of the project location?

Yes

4. Does the proposed project improve or provide new connectivity to a social services facility within a quarter buffer of the project location?

Environmental Justice

Please enter household population located within quarter mile buffer of the project location. H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data. 1a. Low-Income

16,567

1b. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Minorities

21,734

1c. Household Population Under Poverty

4,462

1d. Disabled Persons

2221

1e. Elderly Persons

4500

1f. Limited English Proficiency

4021

2. What is the average Livable Center Need Index within quarter mile buffer of the project location? H-GAC staff can assist in gathering the data.

44.58

3. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project provides benefits to vulnerable populations. Benefits include safety improvements, construction of or improvements to ped/bike facilities, or improvements to transit stops.

Because of its central location in the regional network, the project will also produce improvements in mobility and connectivity for vulnerable populations as well as connectivity to schools, medical facilities, and social services for the regional population.

4. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates adverse effects to vulnerable populations. A list of adverse effects was provided in detailed criteria document.

All current projects are being designed to meet and/or exceed ATLAS-14 drainage standards (reduce flooding). Any sound walls that are identified prior or during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be constructed on this project. This project will also improve connectivity and will not divide communities because it will keep the same alignment and footprint.

Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources

1. Please provide a narrative explaining how the proposed project avoids or mitigates impacts to natural (flood plains, wetlands) and cultural (historic and archeological sites) resources. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in identifying natural and cultural resources located within a quarter mile buffer of the project location.

No Cultural or Natural resources that could be impacted have been identified on this segment at this time.

2. Please provide Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) reductions provided by the project. H-GAC staff can provide assistance in calculating NOx and VOC reductions.

H-GAC Staff, please calculate Emissions reductions for us per email instructions 4/26/23.

Innovation

1. Does the project propose to implement new infrastructure technologies to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations?

Yes

1a. If yes, please explain.

The project will implement new infrastructure or technology to enhance accessibility, mobility, multimodalism, resiliency, reliability, or traffic operations. Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads). This simply broadcasts red, green, and yellow times ahead of signalized intersections to connected vehicles (model year 2021 or newer) if you have the apps (Traffic Safely and ConnectSmart) downloaded on your cell phone for older vehicles. This provides ample time for you to slow down before intersections because of the timing and to adequately adjust with flow of traffic- platooning. The advantages are improved safety because of a reduction of red-light-running crashes and carbon emission reductions resulting from better traffic platooning.

2. Does the project propose to implement new autonomous/connected vehicle technology?

Yes

2a. If yes, please explain.

The project will implement new autonomous/ connected vehicle technology. Brand new Signal Phasing and timing (SpAT) signals will be installed on this segment of the project (Related to CSJ 0912-00-701 that will install 1,100+ of these signals on all traffic lights on TxDOT HOU district roads). This simply broadcasts red, green, and yellow times ahead of signalized intersections to connected vehicles model year 2021 and newer) or if you have the apps (Traffic Safely and ConnectSmart) downloaded on your cell phone for older vehicles. This provides ample time for you to slow down before intersections because of the timing and to adequately adjust with flow of traffic- platooning. The advantages are improved safety because of a reduction of red-light-running crashes and carbon emission reductions resulting from better traffic platooning.